2019 head-to-head · Compact Car

2019 Nissan Versa vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,368/ year to fuel
34 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$767/ year to fuel
119 MPGe

FWD · Electric motor (100 kW) · Single-speed · 119 MPGe · 125 mi

The 2019 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, it costs about $767 a year to fuel (119 MPGe), versus $1,368 for the 2019 Nissan Versa (34 MPG). That's roughly $601 a year, or about $3,004 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Nissan Versa
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV

Side by side

Nissan VersaVolkswagen Golf/GTI EV
$1,368 Your annual fuel cost $767
34 MPG Combined efficiency 119 MPGe
31 MPG City 126 MPGe
39 MPG Highway 111 MPGe
— Electricity use (kWh/100 mi) 28.4 kWh
— Driving range 125 mi
94 cu ft Passenger volume 91 cu ft
19 cu ft Cargo volume 17 cu ft
262 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 0 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 10/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 10/10
— Charge time at 240V 5.3 hrs
Gas Powertrain Electric
Regular gasoline Fuel Electricity
1.6L 4-cyl Engine / motor Electric motor (100 kW)
CVT Transmission Single-speed
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Nissan Versa vs Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV across model years

  • Nissan Versa
  • Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Per EPA interior volume figures, the Nissan Versa has more passenger space (94 vs. 91 cu ft); the Nissan Versa has more cargo space (19 vs. 17 cu ft).

Among 43 2019 compact cars, the Nissan Versa ranks 10th and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 1st for lowest fuel cost.

Because the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV is fully electric, it has no tailpipe emissions and its running cost depends almost entirely on your electricity rate. Cheap overnight home charging widens its advantage over the Nissan Versa; relying on DC fast chargers can erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2019 Nissan Versa or the 2019 Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV. The Nissan Versa is rated 34 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV 119 MPGe (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2019 Nissan Versa vs. the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas and 18¢/kWh electricity, about $1,368 for the Nissan Versa and $767 for the Volkswagen Golf/GTI EV.

Which has more cargo space?

The Nissan Versa, with 19 cu ft of luggage volume versus 17 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

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